PolicyBlogITheArcofNorthCarolina

Typically, The Arc of North Carolina does not comment on policy or legislation that involves tax reform. The Senate Tax Cuts and Jobs Act does include language that cuts funding for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The focus of our statement is on these specific cuts and not on the bill as a whole. The Arc of North Carolina is a non-partisan organization. Our mission includes advocating for the programs, services, and policies that impact those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Today, The Arc of North Carolina released the following statement regarding the passage of the Senate Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The Arc of North Carolina is deeply disappointed at the passage of the Senate Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This unnecessarily-rushed legislation lacked due process, and time for meaningful stakeholder input. Non-partisan analysis from the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation suggests higher deficits, higher taxes for many Americans, and less resources to invest in programs that improve people’s lives and strengthen communities.

On November 27, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that it has taken temporary control of Cardinal Innovations and dismissed their current board of directors.

The Arc of North Carolina applauds the efforts of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) and the North Carolina General Assembly to ensure that Cardinal Innovations, as well as any organization serving the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), is held accountable. We also want to acknowledge the Cardinal staff who are working hard each day to help ensure many North Carolinians with I/DD receive the services they need.

You’ve recently received a number of Action Alerts from The Arc asking for your advocacy once again to protect Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Because you spoke up and supported colleagues and friends to do the same, we were able to stop previous attempts to repeal the ACA and end Medicaid as we know it.

We need your help again.

The Graham Cassidy bill is the Senate’s current attempt to repeal the ACA and decimate Medicaid after failing to pass a similar bill in July. Here are some of the reasons we’re worried:

(September 21, 2017 - AUCD) From all reports, the Graham-Cassidy proposal will be on the floor for a vote in the Senate next week. We need to work non-stop between now and the vote to make sure there are at least 3 NOs to this bill that would devastate people with disabilities and seniors and anyone with pre-existing conditions.

We have put together a toolkit to help you advocate to #ProtectOurCare and #SaveMedicaid.

(September 8, 2017) Today, The Arc of North Carolina issued a letter to Secretary Mandy Cohen, regarding the release of the proposed program design for Managed Care from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS). Click to read the letter in its entirity.